Going Solo to Movies: “We Live In Time”

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers to the movie “We Live in Time.”

It was Friday night, and while most people my age were heading out with friends, I found myself walking into an old-fashioned movie theater — alone.

Recently, viral videos of people sharing their experiences of going on solo dates have been everywhere. So after my recent breakup, I decided it was time to try one for myself.

As I stepped into the nostalgic building, a sense of comfort washed over me. All alone, I approached the counter, carefully selected peanut M&Ms, bought a small popcorn and made my way to theater 16.

The highly anticipated “We Live In Time” was about to begin. Being a big fan of both Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield, I was eager to see how their on-screen chemistry would play out in this new romantic comedy. 

The 2024 film directed by John Crowley premiered just last week and has already received many positive reviews. Almut (played by Pugh) and Tobias (played by Garfield) capture the meaning of true love as they navigate Almut’s cancer diagnosis, infertility treatments and other trials in their lives that strengthen their romantic connection. The timeline jumps back and forth between past, present and future, which may feel confusing at first, but ultimately reveals a beautiful story of the love and chaos life can bring.

An Oscar worthy scene was the birth of their daughter in a petrol station bathroom. It was comedic, emotional and heart-wrenching all while showcasing the heartwarming connection between Almut and Tobias. The filmmakers did a phenomenal job capturing both the vulnerability, messiness and resilience displayed during a natural birth.

After their daughter’s birth, Almut’s cancer returns, and she must decide between starting chemotherapy again or living the rest of her life in the most fulfilling way possible. She chooses the latter. Almut, a professional chef, spends her remaining months preparing to star in a cooking competition in an attempt to make her daughter proud.

There were plenty of visually appealing scenes thanks to cinematographer Stuart Bentley. One of the most memorable was the fair scene where the happy couple swung through the sky complete with soft bokeh lighting and colorful machinery. There’s also a cinematic bathtub scene, where all that’s visible is the bump between the two who share cookies with each other in a visually stunning shot. Another powerful visual came when Almut shaved her head in the backyard with her daughter in her arms, showcasing her strength even in the depths of her sickness.

After watching the film, I decided to post about my experience of going solo to the movie theater. The post ended up with a positive response with the message reaching over 40,000 views. 

It turns out I’m not alone in this feeling. Others have shared similar experiences of going to the movies solo. 

One TikTok user, @cozy.bee, commented, “Girl thank you for the motivation cause my boyfriend broke my heart and I was going to watch this live with him but I was afraid to go alone but I will go by myself.”

Another viewer, @seb, described how deeply the movie impacted them, saying, “That movie broke me, the fair scene made my year.” 

Daniela Mendes, another TikTok user, watched the film earlier that week. “It was absolutely beautiful,” she said.

Minda Severtson, an Instagram user, described the emotional toll the movie took on her. “This movie wrecked me so badly,” she said.

An avid solo dater, @user2534735369940, said, “I go to the movies solo all the time. It’s fun and makes me think about the movie a bit more.” 

I have to agree with User2534735369940. This solo outing made me think more deeply about the film, and I look forward to doing it again.